Sport has played a big part in the social and leisure side of the community and football has always been the most popular form of recreation. Wickford Town Football Team was well known locally in the 1920s.
Wickford Football.
Wickford Town Football Team, circa 1927. Mr White is 5th from right, Alf Fairey is 4th from right.
Barry White
Wickford Rovers, 1923-24. The man at the rear with a flat cap was a Director of Southend United FC. The short man standing 2nd left at the back is Mr Silva Carter of Carter and Ward.
From the John Neville Collection
Wickford Rovers 1924
From the John Neville Collection
Wickford Town 1964
Mike Hill
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My dad, Ray Smith, used to run a Rangers side in the 80s. Jon Reeves and Darren Lepper used to play, as did my brother Kev. I also remember Big Bad Bazza Crossley from the Dickens!
Mark, Matty and Timmy Brown, sure you lived at the top of Highcliff Road, like myself. thought we could take on the world, which I guess we did, in the realms of Wickford, and on British Rail awaydays watching Southend United, good memories of a few punch-ups, etc. Also sitting on the ledge outside Thompsons fish shop in the High Street, watching the world and girls go by. Many more stories but I guess you’ve heard, and a bit much to put on.
I certainly remember and know Mark Brown as he is my dad. He still goes to Southend games to this day, as do I. Some of the stories he tells me are great. He has mentioned many of the names you’ve mentioned especially the Merrins who we often see at Southend away games nowadays.
I PLAYED WITH A LOT OF THESE GUYS – MARK, IAN AT CROFT HOUSE AND RAMSDEN. BAZ WAS A CRAZY KEEPER, I THINK I PLAYED ALONG YOU FOR THE DICKENS A COUPLE TIMES. IF I REMEMBER RIGHTLY YOU ALWAYS HAD A TAN. EAMMON MATTHEWS WAS A QUALITY PLAYER.
I PLAYED FOR BOTH WICKFORD TOWN, 1970s, AND WICKFORD RANGERS, 1980s-90s. GEORGE MERRIN WAS WICKFORD TOWN MANAGER AT THE TIME, LIVED IN A BIG HOUSE ON THE SOUTHEND ROAD NEAR ST CATHERINE’S CHURCH, LOTS OF CHICKENS ALWAYS WALKING AROUND THE FRONT GARDEN. HE HAD BROTHERS RICHARD, MARK AND PETER, GOOD SOUTHEND UNITED SUPPORTERS. FOR SOME REASON GEORGE SUPPORTED NORWICH CITY. AT THE TIME TOWN AND RANGERS WERE RIVALS. MR POPE I THINK WAS THE RANGERS MANAGER.
WE HAD A FEW GOOD PLAYERS:NIGEL LAMB IN GOAL, ROBERT CHICK, GARY CAREY, DENNIS WHITEHOUSE. ANYBODY REMEMBER THEM, OR OTHERS?
FOR RANGERS IN THE 80s: DARREN LEPPER , TIMMY WRIGHT, SIMON CHARLICK, PAUL HUNTER AND JOHN REEVES SPRING TO MIND. ALSO REMEMBER WATCHING MANY GAMES OVER NEVENDON PARK, LATE 60s/EARLY 70s.
THE CARTER AND WARD WORKS TEAM, ANYBODY ELSE REMEMBER? ALSO DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING WICKFORD SOUTHEND FANS: BARRY CROSSLEY, MARK BROWN, NELSON ANDERSON, A BLOKE FROM PARK DRIVE – PLUTO, STEVE CHAMBERS, MARK ELLIS, IAN ELLIS. SAD TO SAY THE ELLIS BOYS DAD SUPPORTED FULHAM. ANOTHER GOOD OLD SUFC FAN, TOMMY DELLOR WHO WORKED AS A TRAIN DRIVER.
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